Windows Phone 8 Update 3 adds support for larger displays

Microsoft Windows Phone 8 is adding support for larger-screen devices with its latest update.

Update 3 optimises the operating system for handsets with 5 and 6-inch displays, as well as the 1080p HD resolution.

Windows Phone 8

Windows Phone 8 screenshot

The move will grant users additional customisation options, with space for up to six live titles on the Start screen, rather than four.

Support for Qualcomm's 8974 quad-core processor has also been introduced, meaning that the software will run more fluidly on hardware powered by the chip maker's latest technology.

Other new features include a Driving Mode that is designed to limit notifications when the user is behind the wheel, improved accessibility to aid blind and visually impaired users, and an improved internet sharing function that turns the user's phone into a mobile hotspot.

A host of under-the-hood performance tweaks and enhancements are also included in Update 3, as well as incremental additions such as customisable ringtones and enhanced Bluetooth connectivity.

Microsoft is rolling out Update 3 for Windows Phone 8 over the coming week, with the aim of bringing it to all users within the coming months.

It will be available for registered developers to try out from tomorrow (October 15) as part of the new Windows Phone Preview Program for Developers initiative.